nucmednet Chapter 270 Negotiation
Chapter 270 Negotiation
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Yan Donglou said, "Brother Liu, you certainly have a good eye. Dong Xiaowan is famous throughout Jiangzuo. She is skilled in embroidery and performing arts, and is known as the 'God of Needlework and the Saint of Music.' Many people want to win her heart, but none have succeeded. Only a young and handsome man like Brother Liu is worthy of her. It's understandable that a young lady is a bit reserved, but since ancient times, even a strong woman can be won over by persistent pursuit. As long as Brother Liu is willing to put in some effort, it's only a matter of time before you win the heart of your beauty."
Liu Ye found his words amusing, so he raised his wine glass in a toast across the distance and said, "Thank you for your kind words, I hope you will soon win the heart of your beloved. I'll drink this to you, bottoms up." He then downed his drink in one gulp.
Yan Donglou laughed heartily, raised his wine glass and said, "Of course, of course. We old folks often have the will but not the ability to do many things, but we are willing to help others achieve their goals. If Brother Liu and Dong Xiaowan truly have a beautiful romance, we will be happy for you too." After saying that, he also drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing that the atmosphere was good, Liu Ye toasted the others one after another. Chinese people often like to discuss things over drinks because alcohol can create a harmonious atmosphere and is the best lubricant. After a few drinks, and a few words about women, the atmosphere becomes lively.
After a few rounds of drinks, Su Mingkang, seeing that the time was ripe, coughed twice and asked, "Well... Brother Liu, none of us have any objections to the conditions you mentioned yesterday. But let's discuss the specifics openly."
Here comes the real show. Liu Ye slowly put down his wine glass, glanced at everyone, and said unhurriedly, "You've all heard about my terms, so let me explain the details. If we can reach an agreement today, I will purchase 500,000 catties of raw silk at 10% above market price. Ideally, it would be best if it could be transported all at once; if not, it will be shipped in two trips. Assuming this cooperation is successful, we can continue to cooperate next time. Considering Suzhou's annual output, this scale of transaction will require at most two or three round trips, and your raw silk will be almost completely sold out. I'll earn real money from Japan, you'll all get an extra 10% profit, and we'll also get rid of Chang Wei. It's a win-win situation."
Despite having heard Su Mingkang mention it, everyone was still shocked by his extravagant spending and the frequency of his trips to and from Japan: wouldn't he monopolize all the raw silk in Suzhou, leaving the other seafarers starving? Although medicinal herbs, porcelain, and books were also popular in Japan, none of these goods could compare to raw silk in terms of profit.
Yan Donglou was skeptical: "Is it really possible to make a round trip in a month? Can Brother Liu borrow the east wind like Zhuge Liang?"
Liu Ye laughed and said, "Going to Japan requires the help of the west wind. To tell you the truth, I have by chance obtained a fast ship that is several times faster than ordinary Fujian or Guangdong ships. What takes ordinary ships half a year to travel, I can do in just one month. I traveled from Qiongzhou to Suzhou on this kind of ship. It took me only four or five days to go from Lingao County in Qiongzhou Prefecture to Liujia Port."
Everyone marveled at this; with such a powerful tool at hand, maritime trade would be unstoppable. Yan Donglou, envious, emboldened by alcohol, asked, "Brother Liu, these ships are treasures! Could you part with a few and sell them to me?"
Liu Ye laughed loudly: "You jest, sir. If I asked you to transfer your silk business and 'departmental permit' to me, would you be willing?"
By transferring the silk business and the "official permits," Liu Ye essentially withdrew from the Suzhou raw silk industry, losing the goose that laid the golden eggs. Liu Ye's analogy was clear: the "Voyage" was to him like the "official permits" held by everyone present—the tools for making a living; how could he possibly transfer them to someone else?
Yan Donglou gave an awkward smile, drank a glass of wine, and didn't mention the matter again.
Su Mingkang pondered for a moment and said, "It seems that Brother Liu is determined to make a big move... But I have never seen anything like selling hundreds of thousands of catties of raw silk to one person before—does Brother Liu really have that much cash?"
Liu Ye nodded: "Cash on delivery, a clean transaction, Boss Su, you don't need to worry about me getting something for nothing."
Upon hearing this, everyone was agitated. This was equivalent to selling their goods in bulk at a price higher than the retail price, earning more money than in previous years. Moreover, selling to one person in bulk was much less effort than selling to dozens or hundreds of merchants piecemeal. Such a good deal was like a windfall, and no one could resist the temptation.
Yan Donglou gave Su Mingkang a wink, and the latter understood, saying to Liu Ye, "Brother Liu, this involves all the silk shops in our guild, and I can't make a decision on my own. Let us discuss it and then give you an answer, okay?"
Liu Ye nodded readily, stood up and said, "I'm going out for a walk, you guys discuss it." He went to the corridor outside for some fresh air, and also to give the people inside some space so they wouldn't have to hold back when speaking in front of him.
He knew his terms were attractive enough that the other party couldn't possibly remain unmoved. His only concern was his lack of understanding of his own capabilities. After all, it was such a large deal, and he was a newcomer to the industry. Whether it was insufficient capital or the inability to withstand the pressure from Eunuch Chang, leading to a failed transaction, it would be a huge problem for these silk shop owners. He, an outsider, could simply walk away, but these native locals, without an excuse or shield, would have to bear Eunuch Chang's wrath alone.
Just then, he heard arguing coming from the other end of the corridor, and he could vaguely hear a woman's voice saying, "...Young master, please have some self-respect. I have always been an artist, not a prostitute..."
That sounded like Dong Xiaowan's voice. Liu Ye looked towards the end of the corridor and saw Dong Xiaowan's room. He quickly walked over there.
A man's voice came out: "...Tsk tsk, still trying to act cute with me. This is easy to handle. If I'm done with you and you don't pay, then you won't be considered to have sold yourself..." It seems that some customers are impatient with playing games with Dong Xiaowan and want to get straight to the point and force themselves on her.
Although this was a brothel, and what was happening inside was something unspeakable between a client and a prostitute, which he shouldn't normally interfere with, Liu Ye couldn't bear to watch the woman he admired being forced into a relationship. He quickly walked to the door, pushed it hard, and found it was locked from the inside. At that moment, he heard the sound of clothes being torn inside, accompanied by Dong Xiaowan's screams.
Liu Ye didn't have time to think, so he raised his foot and kicked down hard.
The brothel's doors were ornately carved, but they weren't made of thick wood; they were quite thin. With one kick, the bolt broke, and the two doors swung open with a bang.
Liu Ye saw a lean man grab Dong Xiaowan's forearm and try to drag her into the inner room. Dong Xiaowan struggled fiercely; her sleeve was already torn, revealing her fair arm. The two were entangled in a struggle. Hearing the sound of the door being broken down, they all looked towards the doorway.